(NaturalNews) They are some of the worst functionaries of the federal government and part of an agency that is roundly reviled, but soon, it appears, they will be armed, even as agents of changed within Congress and the Obama Administration work feverishly to take guns away from American citizens.

As and Truthstream Media appears to be confirming, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing its employees to carry handguns, as evidenced by a series of contractor filings at FedBizOpps.gov that make it hard to conclude anything else.

“While TSA unions are pushing for a policy allowing armed TSA agents, Homeland Security is quietly funding their training and ‘qualification’ across the country,” reported Truthstream Media. “Documents at FedBiz Opps show that DHS has been contracting the use of firing ranges in close proximity to airports in numerous American cities for its personnel.”

Meanwhile, the solicitations for arms training continues

In particular, the solicitations say, “DHS will provide all ammunition, targets, and firearms instructors.”

A number of sites, at a cost of about 500,000 taxpayer dollars, have already been funded, the report says — money that was used to reserve facilities and pay for hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition. In the Biz Opp specs, DHS is calling for training that includes “night fire drills” and various “rapid fire drills,” in addition to more specialized training.

The brief federal business opportunity descriptions don’t mention the TSA by name, per se, but the detailed synopsis does.[DOC]

“TSA reserves the right to inspect all proposed sites to ensure compliance with all requirements set forth above,” the document says.

Also, TSA is listed as the solicitor, and contacts for the proposal are email addresses at ole.tsa.dhs.gov, the domain for the agency’s Office of Law Enforcement. The website also lists “training sites” and dates.

Here are some specific solicitations:

Atlanta, Ga., firing range service solicitation

Posted: July 16, 2014

DHS personnel will use the range utilizing approximately 300,000 rounds to be shot during requirement timeframe. The proposal set forth shall price 44 training days per year.

Los Angeles LAX firing range service solicitation

Awarded: July 24, 2014

DHS personnel will use the range 36 days per quarter. DHS requires exclusive use of the range in 8 hour blocks, and limited blocks in the evening for night/low light shooting. The range will be closed to the public (non-law enforcement) during the corresponding hours that DHS uses the range. Should weather (e.g. rainout) or unforeseen circumstances prevent the use of the range; DHS will have priority in rescheduling those missed days within the same month, if possible, or the following month, if not possible. DHS will provide all ammunition, targets, and firearms instructors. The estimated number of rounds fired per year is 500,000.

DHS will provide all AMMUNITION, TARGETS and FIREARMS INSTRUCTORS. The range time must be available exclusively to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the hours indicated. The range must be able to be utilized for approximately 71 days at 4 hour blocks. An outdoor range is preferred. Each shooter will fire approximately 400 rounds per qualification.

Acting like this is a done deal

And there are others — New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Denver Metro area, Dallas, Dulles International in the Washington, D.C., area, Boston, Detroit and Florida.

And yet, the mainstream corporate media is still pretending like the TSA is only still requesting to be armed, as reflected in headlines reading, “Should the TSA be armed?”

This effort is being based on a lone attack against TSA agents at LAX in 2013; while we mourned the death of the lone TSA agent killed in the line of duty, we found that that was not sufficient evidence to allow them to be armed, especially given the history of criminality and incompetence among the agency’s rank-and-file.

Nevertheless, it appears as though the TSA is acting as if this is a done deal.